James f



(No Model.)

J. P. OSBORN.

vTRUNK TOP. y No. 328,602. Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

JAMES F. OSBORN, OF JEFFERSONVILLE, IND., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. L. CHILTON, D. A. GUTHRIE, AND J. G. GUTHRIE, OF LOUISVILLE, KY.

TRUNK-TO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,602, dated October 20. 1885.

Application filed March 19, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMEs F. OsBoEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at J effersonville, in the county of Clarke and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Trunk-Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,

- clear, and exact description of the construction of the same, reference being had to the annexed specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trunk-tops, but more especially in a top made of three or more thicknesses or layers of wood veneers, the first and last layers of which are made in two pieces with straight edges, all except the eentral ones, which are slightly curved in order to form a perfect joint in the center where they come together by pressing them into form by suitable dies into which they are each laid transversely while the second sheet or layer crosses them on a line with the dies and is made in one piece, the full size of the top with circular pieces cut out of each side, the curves of which are so reduced as to form perfeet joints when all the parts are contracted by pressing them into the dies with glue or other adhesive substance between the different layers, to cause them to adhere firmly and retain the required form rigidly without change.

rIhe object of this my invention is to provide a trunk-top made of three or more thicknesses of veneers secured firmly together by means of glue or other adhesive substance when pressed and shaped by means of suitable dies, thereby giving solidity to the article and rendering it much stronger and more durable than those made of boards or staves, as now practiced by manufacturers. I attain the above object by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective of the dies and press for forming the tops, showing the dies in section. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the top or cover, taken on a line with the top, showing the curves on that line. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the top when completed, showing the arc or swell in cross-section through the center and arc of diminished Serial No. 159,432. (No model.)

heights from the center to the ends. Fig. 4 is a at view of the central piece of veneering, showing the circular pieces cut from the sides. Fig. 5 is a flat View of the pieces constituting the first and last courses of the Veneers, showing the slightly curved edges.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents the press used in pressing and forming the tops, which 6o are made of wood veneers, and in form as shown in the drawings.

B is the screw by means of which power is applied to compress the tops into form, and O are the dies by means of which they are formed, and by which they are rendered rm and rigid and not liable to change their form.

D represents a top between the dies, show ing the curve or arcs of diminishing height between the center and ends. 7o

E E represent the rst and last course of veneers of which the tops are made, and are each cut in form, as shown, with theinner or central. edges, F F, slightly curved in order to make a perfect joint when formed, which is done by placing the first course E transversely in the dies C, and then crossing them on a line with the dies C by the second course, G, which is cut in form as shown in the drawings, with circular pieces H H cut from the sides, the 8o circles of which are afterward made slightly smaller than the circles in the sheet G, in order to make a perfect joint when contracted by pressing them into the dies C, in which they are laid parallel or-on a line therewith, 8 5 and again crossed by another course of the veneer forms E, with glue or other adhesive substance between the parts or layers, and so on in like manner if more sheets are required to make the necessary thickness; and while 9o the glue is yet warm the whole mass is subjected to a heavy pressure between the dies C, which gives form tothe tops and renders them solid and rigid in form and not liable to change, and after the glue is thoroughly dry or set the top may be removed and replaced by another to undergo the same process.

I am aware that trunk-tops have been made of three thicknesses of wood veneers gored at the ends with glue between the layers and Ioo slightly reduced to forni a perfect joint Whenpressed into form by the dies C, substantially r 5 as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the central sheet, G, having circular pieces H H cut from its sides, as above described, the sheets E E, constituting the iirst and last courses that form the tops having the inner edges slightly curved to form a perfect joint when pressed into form by the dies O,- substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

, JAMES F. OSBORN.

Witnesses:

FRANK PARDON, GEORGE HAMMER. 

